23 incredible sports photos from Getty Images this week

The sports world makes for a beautiful palette but individual images can get lost in the constant shuffle. Here are the best Getty Images sports photos from this week.

LeBron James of Team LeBron stands for the national anthem prior to the 70th NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena on March 7, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Covering the All-Star game is always exciting because you get to see the best of the best in the NBA. Lebron James is definitely looked at as the best and most respected player in the league so to find a moment like this where he is isolated on an iconic background is rare. Players like Lebron are not usually given space and when it happens like this, it all slows down and makes for a great frame.

— Kevin C. Cox

P.K. Subban of the New Jersey Devils and Kevin Rooney of the New York Rangers collide in the first period at Prudential Center on March 4, 2021, in Newark, New Jersey. A limited number of fans are in attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

When covering games at Prudential Center, I use strobes that are mounted in the catwalk of the arena. This allows me to use a lower ISO to get better image quality, however, that comes at a price. This means I only get to shoot one frame every three seconds. It’s amazing how long three seconds can feel when you are working in a fast-paced environment like hockey. When the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers face off, it’s always an intense game. In this image, P.K. Subban of the Devils and Kevin Rooney of the Rangers collided as they both were going after the puck. My first instinct was to fire the camera at the point of first impact and shoot the sequence of the collision. With strobes, I have one chance so I have to be very conscious of what type of image I am really looking for and that means sometimes getting the moment after the first point of impact when they are often falling.

— Elsa

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 7, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Pit stops in NASCAR are incredible to shoot — 12-14 seconds of incredibly coordinated movements that look like total chaos at times. As photographers, we’re always trying to find new angles to shoot, and the race in Las Vegas gave an opportunity to have a camera very low on the ground just as the crew jumped over the wall. This is a unique angle that puts the viewer right inside the pit, a split second before the car comes to a halting stop.

— Chris Graythen

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals skates past Philadelphia Flyers mascot, Gritty, during the first period at Wells Fargo Center on March 7, 2021, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Now that the Philadelphia Flyers are allowing fans at games, Gritty has been moved down to a lower level to cheer on fans. There’s something equally endearing and terrifying about him as a mascot. I was attempting to get a photo of Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals during warmups and Gritty making that face was the icing on the cake! There was only one frame of that in the take and it makes me laugh every time.

— Tim Nwachukwu

Gerardo Ruiz of Queretaro celebrates after the first goal of his team during the 9th round match between Queretaro and Chivas as part of the Torneo Guard1anes 2021 Liga MX at La Corregidora Stadium on March 3, 2021, in Queretaro, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

This was an important match for Queretaro, as it was against Chivas, one of the most popular teams in Mexico. Gerardo Ruiz of Queretaro started as goalkeeper this game due to an injury to Gil Alcalá who typically starts. When Queretaro scored the first goal of the match, I was fortunate that Ruiz celebrated right where I was positioned. He typically is a player who always celebrates goals with such enthusiasm and passion. Of all the photos from this sequence, this image is the one I liked the most for the strength in his jump and blurred-looking background which helps emphasize his reaction even more.

— Hector Vivas

Stephen Curry and Lebron James of Team LeBron react during the first half against Team Durant in the 70th NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena on March 7, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Michigan Wolverines celebrate their 2021 Big Ten Championship after defeating the Michigan State Spartans 69-50 at Crisler Arena on March 4, 2021, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Cameron Brink of the Stanford Cardinal picks up teammate Kiana Williams as they celebrate their 75-55 victory over the UCLA Bruins to win the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference women’s basketball tournament at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 7, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Malik Hall and Julius Marble II of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate from the bench in the second half of the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Breslin Center on March 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

Anders Lee of the New York Islanders and Colin Miller of the Buffalo Sabres get penalties for roughing during the third period at the Nassau Coliseum on March 4, 2021, in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Sabres 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Fans cheer following the Carolina Hurricanes’ 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at PNC Arena on March 4, 2021, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Bucked Up 200 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Alisson of Gremio fights for the ball with Marcos Rocha of Palmeiras during the final of 2020 Copa do Brasil between Palmeiras and Gremio at Allianz Parque on March 7, 2021, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their side’s first goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 7, 2021, in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Tiffany Chan of Hong Kong plays a shot on the first hole during the second round of the LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala Golf Club on March 5, 2021, in Ocala, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States celebrates making his putt on the 18th green to win during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill on March 7, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Regan Smith competes in the Women’s 200 Meter Backstroke Heats at San Antonio on Day Three of the TYR Pro Swim Series at San Antonio on March 5, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Katie Ledecky competes in the Women’s 400-meter Freestyle Final on Day Two of the TYR Pro Swim Series at San Antonio on March 4, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

John Leonardo and Pedro Salome exchange punches during the Boxeo Telemundo All-Star Boxing event at Osceola Heritage Park on March 5, 2021, in Kissimmee, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)

Marcos Giron of USA serves in his match against Andrey Rublev of Russia during Day 2 of the 48th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament at Ahoy on March 2, 2021, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Ursa Bogataj of Slovenia jumps during the Women Large Hill Individual training session at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Oberstdorf on March 1, 2021, in Oberstdorf, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Brazilian triple jump athlete Samory Uiki exercises during a training session at CBaT Training Center on March 6, 2021, in Braganca Paulista, Brazil. Samory Uiki is close to qualifying to participate in the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Start for the Women’s 3000 meters during the second session on Day 1 of European Athletics Indoor Championships at Arena Torun on March 5, 2021, in Torun, Poland. Sporting stadiums around Poland remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for European Athletics)